The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia recently announced a new exhibit that will put a face on slavery.

“Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello,” opening April 9 and running through Oct. 19, will follow the lives of six slave families who lived and worked at Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia plantation.

“This is a powerful and thought provoking exhibit,” said Vince Stango, chief operating officer at the National Constitution Center.

Susan R. Stein, vice president of museum programs at Monticello and Richard Gilder senior curator, visited the Constitution Center Feb. 24 to make an official announcement about the exhibit coming to Philadelphia.

“This topic is so important and powerful and is the result of the immaculate record keeping of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello is the best documented, best preserved and best studied plantation in North America,” Stein said.

The exhibit will focus on the Fossett, Granger, Gillette, Hemings, Hern, and Hubbard families and their descendants who fought for justice and helped bring to light their ancestors’ lives and values.

In addition to a personal look into these families, the exhibit will feature 280 items such as Jefferson’s inkwell, silver eyeglasses and his whalebone, ivory and gold walking stick.

There will also be a replica of the portable desk Jefferson used to draft the Declaration of Independence and numerous excavated artifacts including coins, ceramics, tableware, clothing items, combs and toothbrush handles, that offer a glimpse into the life of Jefferson’s slaves.

Stango said the exhibition does an “impressive job” of telling an important and conflicted chapter in the nation’s history.

“Thomas Jefferson was a revered leader and drafter of the Declaration of Independence, yet he was a slaveholder,” he said. “‘Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello’ will provide a unique entry point for our visitors who can then tour our main exhibition to follow where the story leaves off, learning more specifically about the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, which were added to the Constitution in an effort to establish equality.”

A special iPod tour will be offered to visitors as a complement to the exhibition.

Narrated by Stein, the tour will feature personal anecdotes from Stein about the exhibition’s research and development, further background on the objects and stories featured in the exhibition and the importance of preserving the past for future generations.

“Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello” is included in the cost of general admission prices which are $14.50 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older and $8 for children 4 to 12 years old. Active military personnel and children 3 and younger are free.

During the opening weekend, all visitors will receive $3 off admission in honor of Jefferson’s birthday.